Mayyy Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Hey friends! I hope this is the right place to post this. I've been out as ace for a while now, but haven't really deep dove into any resources for asexuality as it's sort of been a back-burner part of my identity. Not that it isn't important, but I've been preoccupied with other pieces of life. I was looking for any suggestions/recommendations on books, literature, etc. around asexuality that folks have loved (or ones to avoid, if you've hated them!) I have perused through some of the stuff out there broadly, but I'm hoping for personal recommendations. Thanks in advance! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CrowsBeforeBros Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I really liked the book The Sound of Stars, by Alechia Dow. It's a science fiction novel and has lots of representation everywhere. The main protagonist is on the asexuality spectrum and it's discussed several times in the book without overdoing it or making it weird. I don't know any other books as I don't read much, but maybe you'll find more Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LeChat Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 @Mayyy (Below is an official, green, mod message.) Hi. Welcome to AVEN! I'm just letting you know I've merged your thread from the Asexual Musings and Rantings forum with AVEN's main, asexual book recommendation thread in the World Watch forum. There are fiction and non-fiction titles and genres listed in the first few posts of this thread. I hope this helps! LeChat, Welcome Lounge, Announcements, and Alternate Language moderator Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Claire-123 Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki is a manga with a lot of great LGBTQIA+ representation in. The main character is aromantic ace exploring her asexuality. It's so beautiful! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolm Posted April 3, 2023 Share Posted April 3, 2023 Phantom Tales of the Night, a manga written under the nom de plume Matsuri belongs on the manga/graphic novels list. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tystie Posted April 8, 2023 Share Posted April 8, 2023 On 10/11/2022 at 10:01 PM, LizCat said: Hey all. So obviously Ace and Aro representation in media right now is scarce. But I was curious if anyone has found any representation in adult fiction books. I've only been able to find YA novels with Aro and/or Ace characters (which is fantastic and I love reading those too). However, as someone in my late 20s, I'd like to read about adult experiences as well. Especially since I discovered my own sexual/romantic identity in adulthood. Thanks! @LizCatasked this question a while ago but I was going to post here anyway, and my post ties in to your question. Friends Without Benefits, by Evelyn Fenn Full disclosure here. I wrote this one. And, yes, this is the one with more ‘older’ age rep. The main character is in her 40s. Most other ace characters are in their 20s and 30s. Other books I’ve come across. Ace of Hearts, by Lucy Mason Hesper is asexual. I think this would count as contemporary new adult. Franklin In Paradise, by John Patrick Character Patrick is demisexual. Set in a world recognisably like our own where most humans are wiped out by disease. There is a lot I love about this book. The world building is amazing, for one thing. I wasn’t wholly convinced by Patrick’s demisexuality, however. For someone who needs to forge a strong bond before developing attraction, he seemed to develop it remarkably quickly. Maybe that’s what living through an apocalypse does to you, though. Havesskadi, by Ava Kelly It’s about dragons. Good world building again, but as a personal preference I like my ace rep to be human. Still, ace characters, so deserves to be on the list. All available from the publisher, NineStar Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc etc. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FJO8 Posted May 8, 2023 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Not explicitely ace, but aroace-questioning and including a gay couple: This golden Flame by Emily Victoria I added it to the Fantasy list Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Maid Librarian Posted May 8, 2023 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Science Fiction/Fantasy: 5 book series: Dreamhealers by M.C.A. Hogarth 1st book in series is Mindtouch ISBN: 9781490450339 Set in multi-species utopian future, it covers the developing platonic love between a member of an asexual species (they reproduce in vitro) and a member of a telepathic and therefor highly touch adverse species who avoid sex as much as possible. Note: Hogarth's other books are good, but do have various levels of sex and violence. This is her only sex-free series that I know of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David XH Posted May 11, 2023 Share Posted May 11, 2023 New favourite piece of Ace representation in fiction - The Meister of Decimen City by Brenna Raney. Come for the romantic asexual representation (the protagonist) and talking dinosaurs, stay for the searingly heartbreaking interpersonal relationships and incredibly stupid puns. 10/10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DemiGreyQuestioning Posted June 19, 2023 Share Posted June 19, 2023 On 5/11/2023 at 12:12 PM, David XH said: New favourite piece of Ace representation in fiction - The Meister of Decimen City by Brenna Raney. Come for the romantic asexual representation (the protagonist) and talking dinosaurs, stay for the searingly heartbreaking interpersonal relationships and incredibly stupid puns. 10/10 Ooh, this looks fun! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
asexual_kitten Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp. The main character is ace but it’s not a major plot point Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MinnieMouse Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Maybe this book is already mentioned in the thread, otherwise I hope it can't be mentioned too much. I've just finished reading "Tash Hearts Tolstoy" by Kathryn Ormsbee. It's a well-written YA novel with an asexual heteroromantic main character. Microlabels are never mentioned, but the asexual character is very clear about not being able to compromise with sex, and as a sex-repulsed romantic asexual I could relate a lot to her. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ace of spaces Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 Does anybody know any good books that focus on asexual people? It does not need to be the main focus but I would like there to be focus on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simulacrum Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 Loveless by Alice Oseman is great! It's all about a girl realising she's aroace. If you were thinking alloromantic asexual, I've heard of Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann, but I haven't read it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 Yep, can't recommend Loveless enough! There's also Radio Silence by Alice Oseman, which includes a demi-sexual character. Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky is a gay romance, also with a demi-sexual character. And I loved Let's Talk About Love! That one is pretty much all about Alice's (the MC) asexuality, and it's handled in such a great way! The romance is so sweet! And, Alice is a black woman! While any ace rep is welcome, it was really great to see an asexual, bi-romantic woman of color represented. There's also Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. It's a graphic novel memoir, focusing mostly on gender stuff (duh), but e also discusses eir asexuality. Heads up for that one though, it can be a little graphic if you're sex-repusled. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thylacine Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 The Invisible Orientation is very good - I forget the name of the author, but the book is excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bare_trees Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I recently read a novel in verse called Dear Medusa by Olivia Cole. The protagonist is not asexual, but her best friend is, and there are a lot of great conversations in the book about that. CW though--the book is about how the protagonist copes with having been sexually abused by her teacher in high school. So it's not an ace novel exactly, but my ace soul really appreciated it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ace of spaces Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 On 7/17/2023 at 8:12 AM, bare_trees said: I recently read a novel in verse called Dear Medusa by Olivia Cole. The protagonist is not asexual, but her best friend is, and there are a lot of great conversations in the book about that. CW though--the book is about how the protagonist copes with having been sexually abused by her teacher in high school. So it's not an ace novel exactly, but my ace soul really appreciated it. Thank you On 7/16/2023 at 5:49 PM, Sandpiper Spade said: Yep, can't recommend Loveless enough! There's also Radio Silence by Alice Oseman, which includes a demi-sexual character. Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky is a gay romance, also with a demi-sexual character. And I loved Let's Talk About Love! That one is pretty much all about Alice's (the MC) asexuality, and it's handled in such a great way! The romance is so sweet! And, Alice is a black woman! While any ace rep is welcome, it was really great to see an asexual, bi-romantic woman of color represented. There's also Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. It's a graphic novel memoir, focusing mostly on gender stuff (duh), but e also discusses eir asexuality. Heads up for that one though, it can be a little graphic if you're sex-repusled. Thanks 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 17 hours ago, ace of spaces said: Thanks Of course! Happy reading! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fuzzipueo Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 On 4/8/2023 at 4:24 AM, Tystie said: Friends Without Benefits, by Evelyn Fenn Full disclosure here. I wrote this one. And, yes, this is the one with more ‘older’ age rep. The main character is in her 40s. Most other ace characters are in their 20s and 30s. I just read this one last month. Thank you for an enjoyable read! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tystie Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 44 minutes ago, fuzzipueo said: I just read this one last month. Thank you for an enjoyable read! You’re very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! :) You’ve made my day. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pack-rat Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Upside down by N.R. Walker is one of my favourite books. It’s about a young man who has just discovered the term asexual and is trying to figure out where he fits in. Vanilla by Billy Merrell is about 2 boys in a relationship, one wants sex but the other one doesn’t. This book is written like poetry, so if you like poetry you should check it out. I’m not really into poetry myself but i still enjoyed reading it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fuzzipueo Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 On 7/16/2023 at 2:40 PM, ace of spaces said: Does anybody know any good books that focus on asexual people? It does not need to be the main focus but I would like there to be focus on it. Friends Without Benefits by Evelin Fenn in which all of the characters are on the ace-spectrum in some way. His Quiet Agent, Merlin in the Library & Agents of Winter - Ada Maria Soto Dread Nation duology - Justine Ireland Royal Rescue - Alex A. Logan Legacy of the Vermillion Blade - Jay Tallsquall The Perfect Assassin - A.K. Doore Happenstance and Bron trilogy - R.L. King An Unkindness of Ghosts - Rivers Solomon Blank Spaces & Finding Your Feet - Cass Lenox 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ace of spaces Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 9 hours ago, fuzzipueo said: Friends Without Benefits by Evelin Flynn in which all of the characters are on the ace-spectrum in some way. His Quiet Agent, Merlin in the Library & Agents of Winter - Ada Maria Soto Dread Nation duology - Justine Ireland Royal Rescue - Alex A. Logan Legacy of the Vermillion Blade - Jay Tallsquall The Perfect Assassin - A.K. Doore Happenstance and Bron trilogy - R.L. King An Unkindness of Ghosts - Rivers Solomon Blank Spaces & Finding Your Feet - Cass Lenox Thanks On 7/16/2023 at 5:34 PM, Simulacrum said: Loveless by Alice Oseman is great! It's all about a girl realising she's aroace. If you were thinking alloromantic asexual, I've heard of Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann, but I haven't read it. Thanks 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LeChat Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 @ace of spaces (Below is an official, green, mod message.) Hi! I'm just letting you know I've merged your ace book recommendation thread from the Off-A forum to AVEN's main, ace book recommendation thread in the World Watch forum. There are lists of fiction and non-fiction books on the first few posts, at the beginning of this thread. I hope this helps! LeChat, Welcome Lounge, Announcements, and Alternate Language moderator Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tystie Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 20 hours ago, fuzzipueo said: Friends Without Benefits by Evelin Flynn in which all of the characters are on the ace-spectrum in some way. Just in case you go for this one, it’s by Evelyn Fenn. (Thanks for including it in your recs. @fuzzipueo) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fuzzipueo Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Tystie said: Just in case you go for this one, it’s by Evelyn Fenn. (Thanks for including it in your recs. @fuzzipueo) My apologies! I will fix. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Toff Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 Chuck Tingle was mentioned years ago in this thread. Are any of his actually any good? Funny? He has a whole category of stories described as "no sex tinglers," which have also been bundled in Not Pounded By Anything volumes 1-3. However, I'm skeptical given the majority of his output being so clearly sex-oriented! But maybe I'd be surprised? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
-Lexa- Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Anger is a gift by Mark Oshiro has 3 side characters who are ace, though it is not a main focus of the book 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DeepSeaAce Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt has all ace main characters pretty much and is about a heist 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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